One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

Chapter 12: Family Meeting

~~~A fool who lose tomorrow reaching back for yesterday. I won't turn my head in sorrow if you should go away. I'll stand here and remember just how good it's been. And I know I'll never love this way again.

I know I'll never love this way again so I keep holding on before the good is gone~~~

-Regine Velasquez-

"Where are we going, mom?" I asked my mom for the third time, but once again I didn't get an answer.

She kept pulling me into the living room and what surprised me was that she didn't stop there until we reached the garage where Dad and Dale seemed to be waiting for us.

"Wait! What is this? Where are we going?" I asked confused when Dad opened the door for us while Dale took the driver's seat. "Mom, what is this?" I'm on the verge of tears, but still, none of them has opened their mouths to give an answer.

I breathed loudly and noticed that Dale was kept on checking me on the rearview mirror. I asked him a silent question through my eyes but he just gave me a slight smile.

I really wanted to cry, to protest and tell them to at least talk to me as they started ignoring me since yesterday when mom found out the truth. And when she woke me up this morning, she just told me to change because we're going to visit her and dad's friend. But seeing how serious they are right now inside the car, I can feel that something wrong is going to happen.

I closed my eyes and leaned against my seat. Nobody speaks even uttering a single word and I admit, the silence inside the car is more deafening than the loud music at the bar during that night.

And before I dozed off, someone opened the radio and I sighed... I was wrong. It's not the radio, but a disc that plays old country music. I forgot that this is my dad's car and of course, expect to hear all the old songs of his age.

After almost 20 minutes of travel to I don't know where, we finally came to stop. But I couldn't help furrowing my eyebrows as soon as I got out of the car. We are in front of an exclusive restaurant in which I thought of meeting my parents' friend. And again, I wanted to ask mom but I held back since I knew she and dad were ignoring me. I just swallowed my question and followed them as they entered the restaurant.

Little did I know that this day would be the beginning of my lifelong consequences... the consequences of what I've done. My life would change and will start to experience a hell of a roller coaster upon my journey.

And that change began the moment we entered the exclusive reservation room where my jaws dropped to the floor as my eyes widened in surprise. Luke's family, including their lawyer Mr. Raymond Clark and our family lawyer Mr. Stephen Chang, were all seated on the long rectangular wooden table.

My heart began to beat faster. Why did I suddenly felt nervous upon seeing Luke's parents?

"W-What is this?" I asked in no particular. My eyes were moving around in search of a certain someone since I noticed that he isn't there.

But before anyone from the group could open their mouths, my question was followed by another question from behind me.

"What is going on here?"

I turned around slowly just to find the person my eyes had been searching for, Luke. He's standing in all his glory with the same reaction as me.

going on here? Mom, is this

when he scanned my dress. This suddenly made me conscious of what I'm wearing. I simply checked my outfit but instantly uttered a silent curse as I realized that I'm only wearing a spaghetti strap sundress which

but it didn't lessen the disgust in

can join us now so we can start this family meeting while having

was about to throw a question,

you talking about, dad?" He said looking at the old Williams

I realized that only

start discussing it once you two also

took the vacant chair next to Dale and he took the one which was exactly in front

Honestly, I don't know and I don't care what the result of this boring and lifeless meeting will be...

turned to the man across my seat when he dropped his spoon

won't marry her!" Luke hardly said looking straight at

like

our business." Mr. James Williams, Luke's father

family's reputation." Lilian, his mother sounded worried, maybe for his son's reaction. But my family

would save

interrupted when my father finally

are indebted to us, especially to my

"What---"

is pregnant with your

floor. He looked at me slowly, which made my heart shrink. And with the kind of look he gave me, I saw hatred... disgust and pure

he just walked away from me. Then suddenly everyone fell into a silent, except my heart. It's pounding loudly inside my chest that seems like it

going to set

your

Williams, look who you're talking to!"

but you have to take responsibility for being the father of your

but Luke didn't give me the

what

what she did." Dad said seriously,

relationship?" Then he threw me

my head upon hearing Luke's words. It's not the first time I heard them and it hurts, but no one told me that it hurts more when it's in front of my parents. Guilt and pain mingled inside, slowly blocking my

I decided to set your wedding in the first week of the

"Mom?"

marry her, son, for the sake of your child. We don't want him or her to be born without a